Church History

Monday, September 10, 2018

Hello Family and friends,

I'd like to just start off and say how much I love and appreciate each of you. So many of you have had such a profound and lasting impact on me and my life. One person in particular is my sister Chloe. She had a birthday this last week so I thought it would be fitting to recognize her. Chloe is so kind. I have always admired her ability to love and be loved by others. Thanks for being such a kind and thoughtful sister and friend. Love you Chloe!

Life is much clearer when we look at it backwards. When I was in elementary school I read a mystery novel, in which a character found a note that was written backwards. By that I mean, the note could only be read by holding it up in the mirror. I remember that as a kid I found this to be fun and exciting; copying words down backwards on a paper, then rushing to the bathroom mirror to examine if I got it right.

I find myself doing the same thing with my mission now. I will give it my all, and then afterwards find myself reflecting on and examining my efforts. That time of self inspection and evaluation helps me to find the errors or changes that I will need to make to do better in the future. As I pray to God, He helps me to find the errors, but also the solutions to any of my shortcomings. What I am trying to say, is that life becomes clearer when we look back and truly reflect upon our actions.

Looking back at the last year and more of my missionary service, I have seen so many ways in which I could improve. For a long time, and still now, I struggle with feeling like my past efforts were inadequate or I could have done more. However, I have a loving God that wants me to succeed. He often reminds me that my efforts were not everything that I could give, but they there are enough! That is the beauty of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Our efforts alone will always be incomplete and insufficient. However that does not mean we should stop trying all together. Christ walks with us and makes up the rest.

As you can see, it is difficult for me to put into words the feelings of my heart. Plainly spoken they are:

- I love Jesus Christ
- I know that He lives
- I know that there is a Plan for us
- I know that through Christ, I can do all things.

Love you all so much! Sorry for not many details about the week. It was a good one! More info will come in the next few weeks.

Elder C.R Anderson

PS - The branch for the small city of Beebe meets in the building here in Searcy. However they are in the process of renovating the second floor of a bank in Beebe! We got to help with that a little today! Here's some cool pictures. I thought it would be funny to look out of the window during class and see Sonic!

Another week in paradise!

Monday, September 3, 2018

Hey Family and Friends,

So good to be able to communicate with all of you each week. The technology we have to facilitate this communication is amazing. God has put amazing tools in each of our hands. I think he has done so to further his work, and to hasten it as well! Whether the work is happening in our own lives, or the lives of others, technology helps us to become better followers of Jesus Christ.

This last week we had 3 baptisms in the zone we are in! One of them was for an amazing person named Kathy. She and her daughter, Harlie, moved to Beebe where they were able to meet with the missionaries and learn about the amazing gospel! Kathy was baptised this last Saturday, and her daughter will be baptised this coming Saturday! So exciting!

Kathy's Baptism was unique because she is usually confined to a wheelchair. Elder Webb, Elder Cluff, Elder Riley and myself all participated in the baptism. The ordinance was only performed by one person of course, but we were there to lift her down the stairs and to help her go all the way under the water then back up. Really special experience!

We have an exciting event coming up! Elder Tad Callister, an emeritus Seventy and the General Sunday School President, will be visiting and meeting with a small group of missionaries. I really look forward to hearing from him. He has said he plans to speak for 3 hours about the power of the Book of Mormon. I look forward to the amazing instruction!

We are all so blessed to be living in the age we are. The blessings God has giving us are both grand and unique. I'm thankful for this restored gospel of Jesus Christ which has not only shaped my life, but changed my life.

Love y'all! Talk to you soon!

Elder C.R. Anderson

Hello!

Monday, August 28, 2018

Hey Family and friends!

Sorry for the short email today. We had a Zone Preparation Day! All the missionaries in Searcy and the surrounding area met in Jacksonville for a day of fun and sports. Everyone from the zone was able to make it and it turned out being a pretty good time.

That last week was a whirlwind of talking to people, working hard, and seeing the gospel in action. This truly is a living church. In that I mean that God is actively guiding and directing his saints. The future is exciting! We are so privileged to help prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

It is my hope and prayer that when He comes we will be ready to meet him. Whether it is in this life or the next, it doesn't matter me.

The words in Jacob 6 sum up my feelings very well.

11 O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life.

12 O be wise; what can I say more?

13 Finally, I bid you farewell, until I shall meet you before the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh the wicked with awful dread and fear. Amen.

With those powerful words, let's be wise! We should all be choosing to align our lives with the only perfect life. The life of Jesus Christ.

Love you all!

Elder C.R. Anderson

Sorry for not many pictures. Everyone's a little tired after a fun day!